LHS3 j" ti Eft w Pi M b & I c R If Er V f' : f u .-a i- !enn 0 CojrvrtoM, JJIJ, 6y Th iirlllv rf Ltt Co. it srnis starts tub story Jo, a young ranchman, employed '- at the, Top Hill ranch of a Mr. King ,' ten In a western state, takes a busl AB9 trip to Chicago, There he meets -aba dance a young girl who calls her ttf "Marta." They fall In lovo with .each other, but Marta refuses to ,Wary him. She confesses herself to Tw a thief and suddenly disappears .after leaving a note for him that he is going to try to "make good." Jo returns to the ranch -where he is tact by another empjoyo named Kurt v Wtwhom ho confides' his experiences vhile away. Kurt advises him against any further thought of the girl, but tTb is confident she. will again come to him. Kurt, who is acting sheriff C the county, learns- from llcnder, the jailer, that a young' woman from Chicago has becu arrested for steal ing and is in the jail. Her name is liarta Sills. AND HERE IT CONTINUES fmOOIt little brat!" he thought. "What chance docs her kind havo? I suppose I ought to give Tier one. There is one person in the world -nho might be able to reform her, and I'd put her in that person's charge if it weren't for wrecking Jo's life." Alb through the afternoon while transacting the business that had brought him to town, his heart nnd his head were having a wrestling match, the former being nt the disad vantage of being underworked. "I'll go up and take a look at her," he suddenly decided. "Ma be I can tell from Jo'b description whether she is his Marta or not." On his way to the jail he was ac costed by a big, jovial man. "Don't know where I can got nn extra helper,; do you, Kurt? Simpson, my right hand, has gone back to Canada to enlist." "How providential!" thought Kurt. "Why, jes; Mr. Wcstcott," he re plied: "We're well up with our work, and I could spare Jo Gary for a few weeks." "Jo Gary ! May heaven bless you ! When can I get him?" "Going out home now ?" "yes; on my way." "Stop at the ranch and take him along with you. Tell him I said to go. ItJil'be all right with Kingdon." JVcitcott renewed his blessings upon Kurt and drove on. At the jail Kurt looked in ou the latest arrival. She was bitting at a table in Bender's back office, her head bowed in her hands. There was some thing appealing in the drooping of her shoulders and in her shabby attire. "Now Jo is disposed of, bhe shall have her chance, anyway," he de cided. , Without speaking to the girl, be soht Bender and they held a brief consultation. "Aren't wo going to stop at all, Mr, Sheriff Man?" ?A' Knft. tilaintive note in the voice made Kurt Walters turn the brake of airold, rickety automoiwc ana mm. iu the dust-white road, as ne cast, u sunni ly scrutinizing glance upon the atom oi a girl who sat beside him. She c'i;"" E I 1 -I - J H was a delected, dusty little ngure, M droonine under the jolt of the jerking car and the bright rays of hills-land sunshine. She was joung in 3 ears; young, too, in looks, as Kurt saw when She raised her ejes, which Kurt saw "were soft and almond-shaped; but old, he assumed, in much that she should not have been. She had found it a long, bard ride ? across the plains, and the end of her endurance had been prelaceu Dy irequcni sighs, changes of position and softly muffled exclamations. eJl seemingly un noted by the man b&tde her, whose deep-set eyes had remained nxcu on ma open-space ahead, his slim, brown hauds gripping the wheel, his lean, sinewy hnrfv .hendinr slkhtly forward. Bis tenseness relaxed; a startled, re morseful look came into his ejes as he saw two tears courbing down her cheeks. They were unmistakably real tears though, as he was well a are, they came from physical causes alone. Mil ihv nenetrated the armor of un- Concern with which he had girded bim- ' se . 'What for?" he asked curtly. , Vhat for!" she echoed her mouth quivering into pathetic droops. "For 11 rest, of course. You may be used to this kind of locomotion, but I'm not Tery well upholstered, nnd I'm shaken to bits. Fact is, I'm just all pegged A' nt. old man. Have a heart, and top for repairs. What's jour rush, anyway? I can't get loose hereabouts, and I haven't anywhere to go, an how. Didn't mind getting 'took' nt all, at all. "How many more miles is it to the R end of jour trail? This is a trail, isn t it?" "A great many miles," ho replied, "and it was on your account more than any other that I was hurrying to get to the " "Jail," she answered supinely, as he hesitated. "No," he said grimly. "I was going Co" take you home for tonight, any way." "Hornet Oh, how you startle me! I didn't know there was any of those home-stuff places left except in the movies. I never was much stuck on home, so rou needn't be afraid to call !"" it Mail' for fear of hurting my feelings." "You can't work on my sjmpathy ' that way," he said coldly. "Dear me!" she replied with a silly, little, giggle. "Iugave up trying to work tbo sympathy racket long ago. Every one's too smart nowadays. Hon- '- . tk. X'.ra no longings for home. I feel "try -for any one who's tied down to -' e'.i "Why don't you kick over the tmM nnd come off your trail and see w)4lt4'on the other side of your hills? I'd'kste to take root here. Say, Mr. flUaflTirnn. you look a good sort, even ifyMf have played jou were deaf and Mfclxor the whole of this awful ride. Lety sidetrack the trail and go home . JMfe eyes remained rigid and relent L' ktiAthrrn was a slight twitchinc of ., ,- .--- ..-,,- T.. K j Hi strongest leawre, ine wiue, mooue MMtil. I He looted at bis watch. 4M i .fL n fit Mtn..,M tt H -n--jja can wmi ur :' imumco, ;.'! In. a matter or. lact voice., p 'Tlease, may I get out and stretch?" tfc asked pleadingly. TmibS ience xor consent, sne cthaafd out of the car. "Jtiw7lMUHut a drink?" bo asked, '5 'if -' ' ''V. v fife Top Hill os he poured somo water from nn im provised Thermos bottle into a travel ing cup. "Thanks for those first kind words," she exclaimed, taking the cup' from him and drinking eagerly. "Why didn't you say you were thirsty?" ho asked in a resentful tone, without looking nt her. Ho had, in fact, studiously refrained from looking at her throughout the journey. "I'm not used to asking for any thing," she answered with a chuckle. "I take what conies my way. 'Taking' is jour job, too, isn't it?" "To hell with my job!" he broke out fiercely. "I'd never lmc takcu it If I knew it meant this." "It's our own fault," she retorted. "It wouldn't hac been 'this' if you hadn't been so grouchy. Wo could have had n chummy little gabfest, if jou hadn't been bunging holes in the landscape with your lamps all the nay. lie made no response nut organ 10 examine the workings of his car. "Etocs the count furnish it to you?" ho asked. "It doesn't seem as if you'd pk-k out nuj thing like this. AV'as it Made iu America'? Tunny outfit for a cowboy country, anyway." "(Set in, he commnnded curtly. "We must be irway." "Oh, please, not jet," she implored. "It's so awful hot, nnd I won't have all this outdoors for a long time, I sup pose. I sie there's a tidy little bit of shade jomler. Let's go there and rest awhile. I'll be. good; honest, 1 will, nod -alien X get rested, you can hit a fustvr gait to cen up. I get tired just the banie as honest folks do. Conic, now, won't jou?" In a llavh she had taken advantage of this ousis of shade that, beckoned enticingly to the passeiby. He followed rcluctuutlj. "This is heacii let loose." she said, lolling luxuriously against the trunk of a tree. "You're the only nice sheriff man that cer run 111c in." He sut down ueur her nud looked glooinilj ahead. "Cheer up!" she urged, after a short silence. "It may not be so bad. Anj one would think you were the prisoner instead of poor little nic." "I wish I Were," he baid shortly. She looked at him curiously. Ishv whnt's eatine you, anjwaj? If jou hute your job so, what did jou take it for?" "It was forced ou me. 1 in only swoin iu us ntting sheriff for the coun- tj until the sheriff returns. "How long jou been 'it'?" "Two weeks. You're mj second arrest." "Who was the first?" "So Long Sam." She sat upright. "Arc ou the man who caught So Long Sam? lerj- one has been nfraid to tackle him. I'd nccr have thought it of u'" "Whj?" he aiked curiously, not proof against the masculine enjojment of hearing himself anal zed in spite of his reluctance to talk to her. "Do I seem buch a weakling I couldn't take one man?" j "No; jou look like jou'd take a red-bot stovo if jou wnnted to; but they said Suy; is jour maiden name 'Kurt'? No! It can't he." "Why not?" "Because thej tailed the man who took So Long Sam 'Kiud Kurt.' You hacn't been oerkiud to me till just lately. Whirling me oer sands in thnt awful foreshortened car." "It must be better," he said drjly. "than the kind jou've been used to." "You mean the jail jitney. Do you know, thc neer jet put me in one. Always ronveed me other wnys. Weren't so had to me. either. I guess ma be jour heart H in the right place or jou wouldn't hae let me rest and given me the drink, eea if jou did wait till the eleventh hour. Can't you look pleasant like jou were going to sit for a picture to give to youi best girl instead of posing for Must before the battle, mother"' You look so sorry sou came " "I am," he slid nugrilv. "I guess 'Kind Kurt' is a blanket- blank fool as some neoije saj . I've been a lot Kinder to jou than jou know.' When I heard of your case and Binder pointed jou out to me and said lied got you locked up I thought you were one of the many joung city girls who go wrong because they havo no thaute to know better. The kind bred in slums, ignor ant, ill -fed the kind who never had n fair show. So I resohed that jou should have one. Bender wanted jou out of town with the surety thnt you would never come back. "I felt sorry for jou. T offered to take you off his hands nnd bung you out here among the hills, where the best woman in the world would teach you to want to be honest. Do jou suppose I'd have done it if I'd known the kind you arc a bright, smart brat who is bad because he wants to be and boasts of it? There 'is no hope for jour kind." It was the longest speech the acting sheriff had ever made. He had been scarcely conscious that he was talking, but was simplj voicing what had been in his thoughts for the last half hour. "How old is this "best woman iu the world'?" asked the girl, seemingly un concerned in his summing up of her case. "Is she jour bweetheart or your wife? If she is either one, you'd better take me back to Bender or spill ine out on the plains here. She won't be real DOROTHY DARNIT Burglars Don't Scare Dorothy! I AIN T AFRAID OF ANYTHING Arvi I vAMS? K J 1 . jbtASX Jmtn.fi'.. i. ...a.v , ..... '.-,(V'?ja:'':.j.. .. ..,1, M r ' iln tl A 1 EVEtote? FPBETCJ (LEDGOSB-SIE Trail glad to try to reform a young, good looking girl like me. I am good-looking, honest, if I was slicked up a lit tle." v llo looked away, an angry frown on his lean, strong face. She gazed at him curiously for a moment and then laid a slim, brown hand on bis arm. "Listen here, Kurt," she said. "You were right In what you thought about me never having had a fair show. Uvcrj thing, every one, including my self, seems to huvc been against me. I was born with 'taking ways.' I couldn't seem to live them down. Lately things have been going wrong awfuily fast. I've been sick, and no one acted as if I were human up to a short time ngo. I didn't know that wns why you took mo from Bender's jail. Honest, I'm not so bad as I talk." Ho looked at her skeptically. Her eyes, now turned from him, were soft, feminine and without guilt. He wouldu t let himself bo hoodwinked. "No; there's no excuse for you," he declared emphatically. lou are edu cated. You could havo earned nn honest living. You didn't have to steal." "No," she said slowly and thought fully. "I didn't have to." "Then why do jou? Bender told me you had a lifelong record of pilfering." "Lifelong! Kind Kurt, I am joung only twentj." "He said you'd been given a chance over and over again, but that jou were hopeless. I think ou nrc." "I think so, too," sho acknowledged, with a little giggle that brought back his scowl. "You've got a white ele phant ou your hands, Kurt. What are jou going to do with me?" "There b only one thing I can do, now," he said glumly. "Carry out a bad bargain. I'll sec it through." Oh, Mr. Britliug!" she murmured sotto voce. "What did you say?" "Nothing. Traveling libraries cvl- dentlj don't hit this trail. What is it the trail to, anjway? Your house?" "To Top Hill Tavern." "Gee! That sounds good. A tavctn! I hopo it's tiptop us well as tophill. How did jou come to build a hotel way off here? Summer boarders? WiU there be dances?" "Top Hill Tavern," he said coldly, "is the name of a ranch not mine. The owners live there." "And does she, 'the best woman iu the world,' live there?" "We must sturt now," be said, rising abruptly and leading the way to the car. "I should think," remarked the girl tasuall after his fourth ineffectual iflort to sturt the engine, "that if she owns a ranch, she might buy a better buzz -wagon than this." lie made no replj, but renewed his futile attempts at starting, muttering words softly the while. "Don't be sore, Kurt. I can't help it because jour old ark won't budge. I didn't steal anj thing off it. Wouldn't it 'be fierce if you were marooned on the trail with a thief who has a life long record '." He came around the car and stood beside her. His face was flushed. His ejes, of the deep-set bomber kind that grow larger nnd come to the surface only when strongly moved, burned, with the light of auger. "Did uny jno ever try whipping you, I wonder?" "Sure," she said cheerfully. "I was buught up on whippings by a step mother. But do jou feel that way to ward me? Y'ou look like a man who 1 light strike a woman under lertain povocation, perhaps; but not like one who would hit a little girl like me. If ou won't look bo cross, I'll tell you why jour 'mobile won't move." lit. made no reply, but turned to the l.iake. "Sav, 'bo," she continued tanta llzingly, "while you ore n lookin,' just cast our lamps into the gasoline tank. Tnat man who rilled it didn't put a widow 'n mite in." Unbelievingly he followed this lead. "Not a drop, damn it"' "The last straw with you, isn't it? I in not to blame, though. If jou think I stole jour gasoline, just search me. How far are wc from your tip top tavern?" "Twenty miles. I suppose you (ouldu't walk it," he said doubtfully. "Me? In these?" she exclaimed, thrusting forth a foot illy and most inadequately shod. "But jou can vwilk on." "No," he refused. "Y'ou don't put one over ou me in thnt waj." "You know I couldn't walk back to town." "Some one might come along in a car." "Wouldn't jou trust me if I gave jou mj word to wait for ou?" "The word of " "A thief," she finished. "All right. I'm in no hurry. What are you going to do?" "We'll wait here until some one comes along." . , "Then let's go back to the trees while we wait," she proposed, climbing out of the car and taking a small hox from the seat. "Didn t Mender have one tiny good word for me? " she asked as they sat down in the welcome shade. "He said stealing was the only of- fenso jou d been up for, and he guessed jou couldn't help it. What was jour little game in making, him think jou were stupid?" YOU BE.T YOO'RE NOT I WAS ONLY AFRAID ONCE ,IN MY LIFE By BELLE K. MANIATES Author of "Amarllly of Clothes-Line Alley," "Mildew Manse," etc. "Did he say I was? Horrid thing I'm glad I put one over on him and luted this," nnd she held up tbo box. "What is it?" he demanded sternly. "His supper. A peroxided wife brought it to him just before he pre sented mo to jou. It'll come in hnndy now, or won't you partake of stolen goods?" "I'll pay him for it the next time I see him." "Shucks, Kurt I You got such a bad bargain when jou drew me, you ought to havo something thrown in. It's all done up iu n nice napkin looks as If it would taste good. Oh, what a feast! Pork sandwiches, deviled eggs, dills, a keep-hot bottte of coffee, layer cake nnd pie. Bender knew how to pick a partner. What shall wc drink out of?" He produced a drinking cup, poured some coffee in it' and handed it to her. "Thank you," sho said. "Shall we make It n loving cup, Kurt?" He ignored her question and plunged greedily into a pork sandwich. He had had so much business in town thnt day he had taken no time to cat The girl partook of Bender's pilfered luncheon sparingly and without zest. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked presently, his temper disappearing as his appetite was appeased. "Nof it's a long time since I've been hungry." "What did jou steal this food for then?" "I don't know. Yes, I do. It -was because that Bender woman gave mc such a once-over, and decided T was the scum of the earth. Is that the way your topside tavern woman will look at me?" "No," he replied earnestly. "She's made a woman out of worse than jou." "Thanks!" she said, folding the nap kin neatly. "I thought you had my number for tke worst ever. It's won derful what food will do for a man. Hope she will let me stay at the top of tho hill while I get an appetite. The doctor Said I didn't need medicine just the right kind of food, rest and good air. I wouldn't have got them, maybe, but for you, and I suppose I haven't been very grateful." Her tone was low and wistful. A look she hadn't seen before a kindly, sjmpathetic look leaped to his eyes and softened the harshness of his fea tures. "Have you been sick, real sick?" he asked. "Y'cs; clean played out, the doctor said." "Then I am glad I brought you. We will make jou well physically, any. way." "And majbe the other will follow?" "It will, if you will try to do right. Will you?" "Sure. I've always tried most al ways. I can't be very bad up at the top of a hill, unless I get lonesome. You'd bdter tell that 'best woman' to double-lock things. It's with steal ing the same as with drinking if anything jou crave is lying around handy, good-by to good resolutions." "I'll see to that. I'm a sheriff, re member." "Look, sheriff!" With a mocking smile, she held up a watch. "I took that off you slick as any thing when jou passed the coffee. It was like tuking candy from a baby." Anger at her nerve and chagrin that he had been so neatly tricked kept him bilcnt. "It's not altogether a habit," she continued in inoik npologj ; "it's a gift." Jo got her number wrong," he thought. "She was just plajing him with her sad, nice, little-girl manner. hor his sake. III see that they don t meet. I wonder just why she is pla ing this role with me?" "You might give me credit for re turning our ticker," she said in abused tone. "I never knew but one other person," he said coolly, "that affected me as un- pleavantl us jou do." "Who was that?" she asked inter estedly. "A cow-puncher Centipede I'etcr." "Some name ! Why don't you ask me my name, Kurt? Don't look so con temptuous. I am going to tell jou, because it doesn't sound like me. It's Penelope." "Oh!" he exclaimed, with somcthiug like n groan in his voice. "Nobody can help her name," she complained. "Don't jou like it? I kind of thought it would suit jou, be cause It doesn't sound like me. Sort of suggests respectability, don't jou think?" "It was my mother's name," he re plied tensely, as he walked a few paces away. Night that comes so fleetly in this country dropped like a veil. (CONTINUED TOMORROW) The Echo's Reply "Father, can I go to the circus to night?" asked the farmer's son. Pathcr No. Tain't more'n a month since jer went t' the top o' the hill to see the eclipse of the moon. 'Pears to me yew're getting dissipated and reck less." Dallas News. WHEN WAS THAT? I L- . I DAILY NOVELETTE THE CONFUSING JACKS By Dorothy M. Tracy m OCTOR GRATSON came on duty tired and wan looking. The house doctor at the hospital had been called on during the night to perform an operation on an emergency caso and thus it camo about that Robert Grayson was not his jovial self. Coming sud denly to the turn in tho corridor he spied Ruth Turner, the sweetest nurse, so tho doctor thought, but sorrow filled his heart as he saw one of tho young surgeons, Dr. John Stewart, or Doctor "Jack" as he was popularly called, cn gaged with Miss Turner is serious con versation When the coupfcs saw Doctor Grayson approaching conversation im mediately censed. Doctor Robert felt assured Doctor "Jack" was whisper ing love tales to Ruth. Some weeks inter Doctor Grayson was filling out n record of a .patient's illness and In destroying a few jileces of waste paper bis eye caught n note thrown carelessly into the basket. It read : Dear Ruth Your sweet note came this morning and its contents hnve mad'3 mo exceedingly happy. We will select the ring tomorrow. Love, JACK. This was evidence. Ruth was en gaged to Doctor Stewart. "Well," thought Doctor Grayson, "my tcrm'of service ends here next weejc, and I will pass out of her life foroycr." He felt the need of a rest and decide to go to the country before establishing himself. He selected the little town of Fcrnsou, nnd registered at the Fcrnson Inn. He bad been enjoying the beautiful view from tpc broad piazza of the ipn and listening to the "town topics," and feeling generally much rested at the end of his first week when suddenly he began to wake up the fact that some ex citement was astir. Presently an excited man rushed up to him nnd said, ''Are you the doctor?" He said, "Yes, viiat can I do for you?" The man cont'uod, "mere a n little fellow been run over by an auto and has had his leg broken. Doctor Harklns is making his calls on the back road and sou are the onlv one we can find. So hurry, doctor." Doctor Grayson hurried to the little lad's home and found a much-distracted mother. When Doctor Robert made his er- animation of the injured little fellow he found bis leg to have a compound iracturc, wntcn meant very careful surgery. After constant care with her son, Mrs. Welton, who was a frail little woman, welcomed the doctor with this news one morning, "Well, doctor, my cousin is coming out to make me a visit, and bhe loves Ted so much and has such wonderful tact with children that the strain on me will be greatlv lessened." "That is fine," snid the doctor. "Now jou must try and escape for a few days' complete r"st." When the doctor called two days later he could hear laughter and cheery voices, nnd oh the voice, whose was it? Mrs. Welton greeted the doctor and said. "Doctor. vou must meet my cousin. Miss ," but sho proceeded no further, when the doctor exclaimed "Ruth!" How pleased Ted was when he exclaimed. "Say, Ruth, you know my doctor?" The weeks sped by and Robert Graj-son made more calls at the Welton home than were necessary, professionally, when one day Ruth said. "Do you in tend to settle in this delightful spot?" "Yes," answered the doctor. "I have made many friends and see splendid prospects ahead, but what of you? Will j-ou continue in your ptcsent course or mnrrv?" "Me! marry, laughed Ruth. "I shall have to wait until Prince Charming asks me." "Ruth," said Doctor Grajsou quietly, "may I ask vou a rather impertinent question? ' "Certainly," snid Ruth. "Then." said Robert, are vrfu not engaged to Doctor Stewart?" "Certainly not." said Ruth. "I am not interested in married men. nnd Doctor Stewart was married about a month ngo." "Now, Ruth." said Robert, "I have a confession to make, ind he told her the story of the note. "Oh! you foolish of men. Thnt note as from Jacqueline Bates, whom we nlwavs call Jock, and the ring was for a dear babv girl, whose mother went to school with Jack and me. Nothing more was said as Robert took her in his arms, but two years 'ater the little baby daughter was named .lacquclinc. , The next complete novelette Old Shoes. Thinks Birds Use Reason Do birds reason? Watching them closely in their activities in their bird bith affords opportunity for the answer. Witness the following: A few nights ngo one bird after an other tried the hard bread crusts we had placed on the concrete ledge of their bath in our back yard. Finding these crumbs not to their liking, they pro ceeded to drop them in the pool to soak nnd then pick them out and ate with gieat relish. Another instance: A catbird captured n juicj bug near the bird bath and laid it carefully down by the pool. Holding the bug captive with one foot, the bird soaked the bread crumbs, then hungrily devoured its meat sandwki. This is no camouflage growing out of fisherman's license. It's a statement of fact. If any one doubts it, let him con struct an inexpensive bird bath, lie thereby will confirm this story, help out our little friends, the birds, this hot weather, and incidentally highly enter tain himself while acquiring a new ap preciation of birds. Elmer N. 1'owcll, in the Kansas City Star. Seats of the Mighty There are two kinds of girls pretty girls and those who stand in crowded trains. Smart Set. LAST NIGHT WHErJ I WENT INTO THE klTCH&N ALONE - Zj r - - Ttlffiliaiilll if 11 'ftLiimi... .. ....... !U k, . n i.fi.Ji. , . , . K! . . Lady of the Copyright. 1019, by tha Macaulay Co. Copyright, 1010. by the Fubllo Iedier Co. BUT she was in no wlso prepared for what she saw when she got there. Her extreme caution in approaching and entering had beta entirely unneces sary; and, after she was safely inside and the door was closed, she may be forgiven for laughter. Belknap had discovered another one of the mysteries of the Nest, for, over against the great stone fireplace, within a network of steel wires that extended from beneath the granite shelf straight out over him nnd down in front of, and at cither side of him, he was as securely caged and helpless as ever any wild beast in a menagerie has been. "Will you accept your liberty to night, instead of waiting longer?" "Yes." "It is storming outside, and every body at the house has retired. Will you go earlier tljan 2 o'clock?" "I will go now, if you like, if it is true "that all the guests have gone to their rooms," he replied. Kathcrlne was thoughtful for a mo ment, then she said: "It is only fair that I should warn you of somcthiug, Mr, Dcjknap. I am convinced that Myqucst Is watched." "As to that" ho snapped 41s fingers "so am I. I will take care of that part of it." "Very good. She stepped to tho end of the sllelf and released him. As he stepped free she moved swiftly across the room, nnd, as if by magic, the door swung open while .she walked. and he wms not able to see bow .she did it. At the opposite side of tho room she, stopped and faced him. , "Go, she said. "The way is open. I 'have kept all of my promises to you ; I expect that you are still man enough to keep yours to me. "I will," he snid. "May I " "No. You may do nothing more. Y'ou may not address me again; other wise, I will relent. Go." He went. Kathcrino relapsed upon a chair as soon as the doorway had closed after him. Belknap's Prepared Getaway IT WAS exactly twelve minutes, ac cording to Bingham Harvard's watch, after Katherine entered the Nest, when Conrad Belknap came out of ita lic descended the first steps Bwlftly, was lost sight of along tho winding path among the boulders, could be seen again in his descent of the second stairs, and then to the nstonishment of those who watched he started rapidly to ward the house. He encountered nobody. The house had not been closed up, nor the lights extinguished. He entered the music room at one of the windows. 1 As directly as the needle of a com pass points north, he went to the corner behind the planoj and secured the "scrubby old cane." He lifted it, examined it attentively, worked at the knob on top, found it secure, tried the ferrule and iooscned it us far as it would unscrew. Then he tried the knob again, nnd opened it. Ho turned white to the lips when he discovered the object wrapped iu foil and tissue inside. He extracted it. He held it worshipfully in the hollow of one hand nnd stnred at It. His other hand moved as If to unwind the wrap pings, and stopped. He put tho object that was wrapped iu foil and tissue into his pocket. He went out of the music room like n flash. It was wonderful how quickly he could move when he wanted like a cat, or any other predatory nultnal naturally. DREAMLAND AD VENTURES-ByDaddy "THE GIRL IN THE TOWER" (Peggy, Billy and Hollo, the mon key, go to the icacue of a girl shut vp 111 a toieer by her perfectly prim and proper .lunt J'rue, icho has never let her have any fun or play.) The Escape PEGGY was a bit doubtful over Billy's wink when Penelope, the girl in the tower, said she would go with them because the fairies she had read about were always perfectly prim' and proper. Peggy thought that Billy's wink was mischievous and she knew there were times when Billy was far from being perfectly prim and proper. But she knew, too, that while Billy liked jokes and a good time,, he was a fine, splendid chap who could be trusted to do what was fair and right, and she felt that a taste of fun and play would do Penelope good instead of harm. It was awful to think of any one growing up lo eighteen years of age without a single frolic. So Peggy, after 11 moment's thought, made up her mind Ujat she would be like the fairy Penelope thought her to be, and try to give the captive the glad hour of freedom for which she begged. Penelope glanced at her wrist watch. "I have just an hour," she said, "This is the time when Aunt True and the entire castle household take a per fectly prim and proper afternoon nap. I must be back when she awakens." "Then hasten," cried Billy, leading her to tho dangling rope ladder. "I'll Copyright. 1910, by the riell Syndicate, Inc. c- WHA.T WAS i was afraid i woulomt find the chocolate cake YOU AFRAID ABOUT? Night Wind The two watehers lost sight of him then, and could not follow. They had thought that he would leave the house by the way ho entered it but Cranshaw. Belding, otherwise Conrad Belknap, was far too wise for that sort of thing. "Wo have lost him," Tom Claqcy said. "Go around to the rear, Tom," Blng replied, and darted away without imparting his own intention. Harvard, as it happened, having so often been in tho position of fugitive himself, presaged Belknap's movements by what he would have done himself under like circumstances, and his ideas were well assumed. He went to the rose bower, from which he could watch the side entrance. Belknap ''appeared at last, moving cautiously. He darted - among the shrubbery, and kept himself amid the deepest shadows; but .Harvard had seen him lift his head and point, ns a hunt ing dog points, in the direction of his course. Harvard caught sight of him again as he went out upon the platform at the boathousc. Belknap secured a paddle and lifted a canoe into the water. He got into it and paddled out upon the lake, mak ing his way directly toward the dam. If it had been possible to approach the Nest by that route, Harvard would have thought that he was returning to the chalet. He was not. He paddled directly toj the dam. at the opposite end from the Nest, and Harvard, running like a have, 'followed ,nl6ng the shore of the lake. But when Bing Harvard got near enough to the dam he could see only an empty canoe that was hugged against it. "What the dickens " he began to ask himself, but before he completed the self-asked question he had thrown off his cont, vest and shoes and was in the water. " Ho swam quickly to the canoe where it was hugged against the dam and then he discovered that three big spikes had been driven securely into a block of wood which, In its turn, had been ingeniously wedged into the masonry of the dam itself; and that n hemp rope no larger than a clothesline was knotted around the spikes a knotted rope, to facilitate descent, Bing had no doubt. It was Belknap's prepared getaway, made on the sly; but it was a daring method. The fall from the top of the dam to the jagged rocks below was sixty feet, as Harvard well knew. "By Jove." Bing muttered to him self, "tho fellow deserves to get away! And he will, if he reaches the bottom in" He stopped, fascinatel by What he saw. The block of wood into which the spikes had been driven, that had been wedged Into the masonry of the dam. trembled; it was coming loose. Harvard reached out for it fran tically. He would have grasped and held it if he could, and saved the life of the man he had been pursu ing. ' v But he was not quick enough. , The block of wood came entirely loose before he could seize upon it, and disappeared across the top of the dam. During an instant, which seemed ah eternity, Harvard listened; but no cry came up to him from the depths bplow; only a dull thud, a subdued crash, and silencer They found Belknap half an hour later. It was apparent that he had been killed instantly. Ills neck was broken, and there was a jagged wound above bis right temple besides. While "A fairy chariot" go below and hold the ladder steady while you and Fairy Peggy come down." Again he winked at Peggy, and before she could even frown at his joking, he swung himself to the ground. Penelope looked at the ladder,' and her face grew pale. It surely did look frail and dizzy, and the ground was far, far bejow. "Do you think it is perfcctlj prim and properj. Fairy reggy?" bhe whis pered. "Don't be afraid," answered Peggy, At that Penelope set her teeth firmly together, shut her ejes tight, and swung out upon the ladder. She was fright ened, but brave, and went down step by step until she 1 cached the solid By Chas. McManus ByVARlCK VANARDY Author of "The Two-Faced Man't "Alias tho Night Wind," etc. -' unmindful of what was going on. the guests at Myqucst slept peace fully. "V Within the larger garage, to which' tho body of Belknap was carried, a group of people was gathered. There were several strangers there who went outside, presently, at the request of Caruthcrs, for they were the men who had been assisting him. Rodney Rush ton was there, and Tom Clancy, and Julius. Roberta was there, clinging close to Katherine, Senator Maxwll ton was there, he having still been deep in the discussion t genealogy with Roberta when Katherine sum moned her. Blng Harvard was there, very silent and very still. When Carruthers sent his men away, he closed the door and turned to face those who remained; but As ho made tho turn he swept ona hand across his face. As if by 'magic the" hideous" scar that had so, distorted and changed .his every feature, was torn away, and he stood revealed to all as Roderick Maxwilton. Katherine, who .had been a long time in consultation with Julius, vvas, in a half measure, prepared for it ; never theless sho started forward with a quick cry of joy and threw Ijcr'arms around her brother's, neck, to the ut ter nrnazement of Blng. It was tho senator (who, pjddly, seemed Jiot surprised at all) who step ped to Bing's side quickly and riUijred the three words that explained tie sit uation. "It is Roderick," be saW; then, after n momeut, he added: "I knew yester day, Bingham. He took me aside and told Bio. Then, tonight, after dinner, wc went together to his mother; nnd Bingham she is as happy now as she was on thnt day, jcars ago, when she brought him into the world." "Roberta," the senator went on, "come here." Then: "Katherine, Ro berta is a Maxwilton. She is a cousin, many times removed. She is even closer kin -to your wife, Tom," he added, turning to Clancy. "They had the same great-grandmother. She is, I am proud to state, a Maxwilton." "You bet sho is!" Roderick an nounced, reaching out and clasping one of her hands. "And she is going to be a Maxwilton by name as well as by nativity." , "This is not a moment nor a place for rejoicing," Katherine announced, "so, although it is late, I want you all to come with me to the library. I have something of interest to tell." "One moment," said Roderick. "Be fore wc leave the bilcnt member of this party, I have something to tell. He has been as bad as bad could bo, but there was am explanation for it, if not nn excuse. He is dead, now. In his possession, when his clothing was searched, wc found quite an assortment of papers. Some of them related to' the hiding places of certain engraved plates which the United States Gov ernment will now secure, and destroy. Others referred to matters connected with me, and are proof sufficient of my innocence of certain acts with which I was oucc charged, if, happily, it were not the fact that i&-vc already been ncquitted of it $5'my own de partment. So I shall suggest that no further reference be made to bis mis deeds, and in making that proposal I know that I will havehe approval of my chief. He is dead Let him rest." "And he died without knowing that he, did not possess the Eye of Nadja," Katheriue exclaimed. "I am very glad of that. Yes, I an glad of it." And, until sheftold her story in the library, they did not kuow what she mcantt, , The End earth. Peggy, scarcely less frightened, followed, and then Rollo, tho monkey, let tho rope ladder fall while he slid down the rainwater pipe, "Mj. that made me feel queer kiift of thrilly all over," whispered Penelope. "Do you think that perfectly prim and proper?" ''Perfectly," answered Peggy, who was already following Billy across the lawn to the summer house. "Alas, how are we going to escape from the grounds?" cried Penelope.. "The gunrds at the gato never sleep, and there is no other way to get out." "Wc have a way," laughed Billy, and he parted the curfain of leaves to show the tunnel. like path along the bed of the brook. "Ob, I can't walk throueh there. .It wouldn't bo perfectly prim and proper," , objected Penelope. Billy agreed with ner. Jt was pretty hard for a boy to walk through the cold water and ver the pebbly bottom, much less a girl, And ho couldjilt carry Penelope' the jyay he had Peggy, for Penelope was eighteen years old, and altogether too large. Glancing around, Billy's eves chnnred kipon a wheelbarrow, left at the edge of me iawn Dy tne gardener, who was now taking his afternoon nap in the hay loft. "A fairy chariot!" exclaimed Billy, whceljngvthe barrow to the entrance of the tunnel. "Step in, fair ladies, and I will vvhjsk you away to freedom," "Do you think it would be perfectly prim and " Penelope started to ob- ject, but Peggy gently pulled the girl down beside her in the -barrow, and Billy plunged into the tunnel. .3V:. m7,- f001 so "irilly so thrilly, whispered Penelope. "I won der what is the matter with me?" Peggy smiled wisely she felt thrilly herself. It was so much fun riding through the tunnel In a whcclbarrpw. loncloiie was having fun and didn't know It. Hollo, the monkey, wa.s waiting at the great stone wall. He had carried the rope ladder ovor the trectbps, and now It was hanging ready for them to ascend. It took but a few minutes for them to climb over and down to the bank pf the rippling river. Here Billy was puzzled again. He couldn't carry Penelope, as he had carried Peaev? What should he do? , '" Away off In Blrdland sounded a familiar voice: "Hee-haw! Heehaw! I'm off for a lark. Prince Billy and Princess Peggy, where are you?" Billy save a glad 1shout "Balky Sara I Balky Sam I Come here I"" Balky Sam heard, and in another minute the army mule stood on the op. poslte shore waving his big cars in greeting to them, JTomorroic will be old Auto Pm1. nJi I'ojie IvughihrMt fir$f time.) J "m ' n 1. v f 0 1. IN 'Ml M s
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